This morning, we held our weekly DDM and as normal it went very well. We have wonderful Elders and Sisters in our district. Afterward, we headed out to do our monthly shopping. Sister Gowans and I have determined to diet this entire month; we will be doing a low carb diet eating no more than 20 carbs a day. I will do so for about a week and then start increasing my carb intake. Sister Gowans will stay at that level for 2 to 3 weeks and then begin increasing her carb level. We will be completely cutting out breads, cereals, sugars, sweets, snacks and so forth. We will increase our intake of vegetables and healthy proteins. We will make our own peanut butter, salad dressings and so forth. Sister Gowans has a goal to lose 40 pounds. On this diet she could lose about a pound a day. My goal is to lose 5-10 pounds.

This evening the Meachams took us to visit Shae, she was baptized back in September. She has been going through some struggles lately one of which is her fiance up and left her without even a trace. So she was rather heart broken, but she has come to learn that it is all for the best if she wants a life that is in line with God's will for her. We had a nice visit and left her with a thought from the January Ensign and prayer.

After our meeting with Shae, we received a call from our young missionaries to tell us about Tony a fellow that Elder Gowans has met with along with our young missionaries. Elders Hatch and Judson have been meeting with him daily for about a week. He is distraught over the condition of his wife's health and his own physical condition. She is in the last stages of Alzheimer's and he suffers from the pains of a once broken back and other ailments. Yesterday, as we visited with him, we felt inspired to give him a priesthood blessing. In the blessing he was promised that if he would lay his burdens as the feet of the Savior, he would be blessed with greater health, he would sleep at night and would be able to accomplish the things he desires. He also was reminded that his wife's life is in the hands of God and that she would be taken care of. Today, when the Elders went to visit him, he was up and answered the door, he was clean shaven, he was all smiles! He had slept the previous night, got up cleaned the house, fixed food and all sorts of things! With faith in Christ, he was able to do everything he was promised. He is in the process of being born again. It is a true miracle!

Happy New Year everyone! We love you!